Firepool Survey 2

“JOBS AND SUSTAINABLE GROWTH - NOT JUST MORE HOUSES” SAY TAUNTON LIBDEMS AT FIREPOOL

NEW PLANS TO BE SUBMITTED for the former Cattle Market ‘Firepool Site’

We invite your views on an opportunity to create a true destination for sustainable environment

Simon Nicholls, as part of the Taunton Deane LibDem team of Councillors, has been constantly challenging the Conservative-led Council over many years to get something done about the biggest eyesore in our town centre – a site owned by the Taunton Deane Borough Council (TDBC). We believe it is shocking this site has been left neglected by the Council for so long.

Now that new proposals are coming forward from developers we are inviting local people to have their say on what is possibly the best development site in the whole of the South West - at Firepool. The Conservative-led Council, working with its appointed partner, St Modwen Development Ltd, took over 9 years to bring forward a development. They have designated almost half of the site for ground level car parking, a supermarket and 200 homes. As a local lad, Simon Nicholls remembers the cattle market from its heyday, and his team is leading the charge to get a much better deal for Taunton.

The Council Planning Committee rejected the first scheme at its meeting on 31 August 2016 backed by senior planning officers who recommended refusal, because the proposal fell short of expectations. They added, “Taunton deserves much better than this”. An amended proposal is expected shortly. We are determined to make sure local people have the opportunity this provides to secure a development that reflects the modern needs of a progressive and job-creating town. The recent

announcement to proceed with the Hinkley Point C will further increase the demand for commercial and research enterprise. The Firepool Site, if properly developed could meet the aspirations of a forward thinking, progressive county town, meeting the growth requirements, or it could be sold off for just another supermarket, car park and more housing without the facilities so desperately needed to secure Taunton’s economic future.

We invite you to have your say. Please help to build a Taunton we can all be proud of, by completing a short questionnaire and keep an eye on tauntondeane.gov.uk for the planning application to arrive. You may not get another opportunity!

QUESTIONNAIRE

Please tick your answer

Firepool belongs to Taunton Deane’s taxpayers: should they receive a commercial return OR allow the development partner to reap most of the benefits? *

Yes

No

Don't Know

Would you like to have a high quality riverside promenade, Taunton’s version of Little Venice, a destination attracting tourism? *

Yes

No

Don't Know

Should car parking and a huge supermarket be the central feature of the development?

Yes

No

Don't Know

Would you like to see high quality jobs including Research and Development created and situated on the site? *

Yes

No

Don't Know

Do you think there should be smaller premises to offer to start up businesses from technology to craft and cultural businesses?

Yes

No

Don't Know

What do you think the top three priorities for the Firepool development area should be? Please rank in order 1 to 3

Any other comments?

Person Details

Name *

Name

First Name

Last Name

Address *

Address

Address 1

Address 2

City

State/Province

Zip/Postal Code

Country

Email

Telephone *

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Published and promoted on behalf of Taunton Deane Liberal Democrats at the Old Harness Room, 83 Staplegrove Road, Taunton, TA1 1DN.